Enormous ability
Triumph’s Tiger 1200 is a big beast but it’s worn its 16,530 miles incredibly well
What’s the best thing about the Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT?
It’s a strange thing to say, but it’s the adaptability. What I love about it is that it just works in every situation: solo; two-up; head down and devouring big motorway distances; filtering round Cambridge in the mornings; carving through mountain hairpins… Even the odd, easy gravel road. It simply does everything without fuss.
Mostly that’s because the package is so well sorted. The engine is a responsive, muscular, easy-to-use delight — though I only ever use it in the full sport mode. The steering is accurate and light yet stable, while the semiactive suspension with self-adjusting preload gives a superb ride, every time. The ergonomics are great (for a big guy like me) and the controls, clocks and menus are excellent. It all comes together to make the Tiger a supremely useable, well-rounded road bike.
What’s the worst thing?
It’s too heavy. Sadly, I’ve been bolting on things (mostly luggage) that make it heavier, not lighter.
What was your defining moment?
Riding the North Coast 500 (more or less). Just me, the Tiger and the roads. Some terrible surfaces, some fabulous ones; some awful weather, but some lovely sunny spells as well. The Tiger took everything in its stride and it absolutely made my four-day trip.
What have you learned?
I’ve learned to like the convenience of keyless ignition but having to use the key to open the Tiger’s filler cap infuriates me every single time.
If you had £16,150 to spend on a new bike, would you buy it?
Possibly… It really suits the way I ride, whether I’m haring around like a fool or taking it steady with my girlfriend on the back (she loves it, by the way — and who really chooses our bikes, eh?) It really comes down to: is the price of the Tiger sufficiently better than the price of a similarly spec’d GS to make me forgive the weight? Probably…